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Rebecca Olmstead
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Dreams and Illusions: A Gabrielle Dorian Mystery #1 (Gabrielle Dorian Mysteries) Kindle Edition

by Rebecca Olmstead (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

"Dreams and Illusions is cinematic and entertaining with interesting, well-drawn characters, a fast moving plot and unexpected twists and turns. A fantastic read from a talented writer that is confidently told". – Review by Book Excellence

Global Book Award Gold Medal Winner

CIBA First Place Winner for the Murder & Mayhem Award

Finalist for the Readers' Choice Book Award


Suffering a crisis of faith, will one woman’s cryptic visions lead to the path of healing and save her sister from death row?

Gabrielle Dorian believes God has turned against her. Despite prophetic dreams, the grieving boutique owner resents that her alleged gift didn’t prevent her parents’ accidental deaths or protect her husband from a fatal worksite accident. So after receiving a panicked call from the last of her family, the distraught woman shelves her own sorrow and rushes to Seattle to rescue her estranged sister.

Discovering her sibling has been charged with murder, Gabrielle begins to fear the worst when her brother-in-law is missing and his best friend mysteriously comes up with bail money. Battling a hated former classmate in charge of the case, she fights through the murk of suspicious clues that all point to a guilty verdict.

With her last loved one’s life on the line, can she uncover the truth before it’s too late?

Dreams and Illusions is the riveting first book in the Gabrielle Dorian Mysteries Series. If you like headstrong heroines, fast-paced drama, and dark twists, you’ll love Rebecca Olmstead’s tale of doubt and redemption.

Buy Dreams and Illusions to unmask a killer today!

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  1. Book 1 of 1
    Gabrielle Dorian Mysteries
  2. Print length
    253 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
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  5. Publication date
    September 13, 2023
  6. File size
    3.8 MB
  7. Page Flip
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From the Publisher

Dreams and Illusions

Gabrielle Dorian

A woman with a Gift

Dreams and Illusions

Tina Croft

A sister accused of murder

Dreams and Illusions

Matthew Pierce

A Seattle detective with an ulterior motive

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dreams and Illusions is the enthralling first installment of the Gabrielle Dorian Mysteries Series that promises to keep readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. Filled with mystery, suspense, and drama ... cinematic and entertaining with interesting, well-drawn characters, a fast moving plot and unexpected twists and turns. A fantastic read from a talented writer that is confidently told." - Review by Book Excellence

Mystical, thrilling, redemptive.
The significance of Dreams and Illusions lies in its exploration of grief and intuition. Studies show that grief alters brain function, often triggering vivid dreams and heightened emotional responses. Olmstead taps into this universal experience, crafting a narrative where Gabrielle Dorian's prophetic dreams reflect both her anguish and her resilience. The book's emotional complexity resonates with readers who understand the murky intersection of personal loss and the quest for meaning.
In Dreams and Illusions, Gabrielle Dorian, a grieving boutique owner, is haunted by dreams that seem to foresee events, yet these visions failed to prevent the deaths of her parents and husband. When her estranged sister is accused of murder, Gabrielle must set aside her own pain to uncover the truth. What follows is a tense, atmospheric mystery set against the backdrop of her own crisis of faith, where dreams become both a guide and a torment.
The book's strengths are numerous. The plot is layered with rich, emotional content, drawing readers into Gabrielle's inner world, while maintaining suspense through a series of cleverly placed twists. The writing style is immersive, with Olmstead's attention to detail elevating the emotional impact of key scenes—such as Gabrielle's strained relationship with her sister, Tina, and the palpable tension in their reunion. The supernatural elements, particularly Gabrielle's cryptic dreams, are seamlessly integrated into the narrative, giving it a unique edge. My favorite part of the book is the deepening mystery of Gabrielle's recurring dream, where numbers and symbols seem to hold the key to her husband's death and her sister's predicament—its subtle unraveling keeps the reader on edge, reflecting the fragility of certainty in her life.
While there's little to criticize, the Y2K setting could have been more pronounced to heighten the period's anxiety. Despite trying, I could not find any significant flaws in the book's narrative structure or character development.
This book may not resonate with readers who prefer straightforward crime novels without supernatural elements. However, fans of psychological thrillers, supernatural mysteries, and character-driven stories, such as those written by Alice Hoffman or Gillian Flynn, will find Dreams and Illusions deeply satisfying. It echoes the emotional intensity of Practical Magic with the dark intrigue of Sharp Objects.
Ultimately, Dreams and Illusions is a haunting, lyrical journey into the unknown, where dreams blur the line between reality and illusion. Its exploration of grief, faith, and redemption elevates it beyond a simple mystery into a profound tale of self-discovery and healing. Like a carefully spun web, it entraps readers, leaving them to untangle the delicate strands of truth and illusion, while marking Olmstead as a distinct voice in the realm of supernatural fiction. - The Chrysalis BREW Project

About the Author

Rebecca Olmstead is an award winning author of Mystery/Suspense, Short Stories, and Christian Nonfiction. She lives in the great Pacific Northwest with her husband, the youngest of their five kiddos, a dorky black lab (Sophie) and a black cat with an attitude (Agatha). She's a confessed chocoholic, and coffee hound, and when she's not writing, she enjoys, camping, fishing, and hiking with her family, gardening, crochet, sewing, quilting, reading, and watching mysteries!

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Rebecca Olmstead

Rebecca Olmstead

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Rebecca Olmstead is an award-winning author of both fiction and non-fiction, speaker, and teacher. Her book, Loved So Much, It Hurts: Purpose in the Pain, Is a Book Excellence Award and Global Book Award finalist, and a Chanticleer Journey Award Semi-Finalist.

Her short story, "The Uninvited Guest" is a fun read and her first award-winning story. She will be releasing Dreams and Deceptions, the second in her Gabrielle Dorian Mystery Series in November, 2024, and her story, "A Deadly Conundrum" will be in A New York State of Crime in 2024.

Rebecca's stories have been published in a number of periodicals and anthologies, including Malice, Matrimony, & Murder, The Cellar Door #3: Dark Highways, Live, The Upper Room, Now What?, Focus on the Family's Clubhouse, Jr., and Houseboat magazine.

When she's not writing, Rebecca enjoys time with her family, camping, hiking, gardening, baking, and crochet. She also enjoys showing Jersey Wooly rabbits with her husband and daughter.

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